John Wesley Herring Jr.

April 27, 2014

John Wesley Herring, Jr., went to be with the Lord on April 27, 2014, surrounded by his family in his home in Starkville, Mississippi.Â He was born on August 8, 1927, in Lincoln County, Mississippi, to Wesley and Winnie Herring.Â He spent his childhood in Lincoln County surrounded by loving parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.Â He served in the Navy during World War II and then graduated from Mississippi State University in Electrical Engineering.Â He moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he received a Masterâ€™s Degree and a Doctorate at the University of Arizona.Â It was there that he met the love of his life, Frances Coffman Herring, to whom he has been married for 54 wonderful years.Â He returned to Starkville where he enjoyed a long career as a professor of Electrical Engineering at Mississippi State University.Â He loved and served his community particularly through his involvement with First Baptist Church, Kiwanis, and Tax Aide.
He lived his life loving and serving God and others.Â He lived out these verses found in Godâ€™s Word: â€śLove bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstancesâ€ť (1 Corinthians 13:7) and â€śHe who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.â€ť (Proverbs 17:20)
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Jeannette Kidd, and his brothers, Julian and Jimmy Herring.Â He leaves his beloved wife, Frances C. Herring, and three children, Jan Houston (Doug), Jeannette Russ (Bobby), and Wes Herring (Robyn). Â He was a proud grandfather of eight grandchildren: Â John Gregory, Nathanael, David, and Joseph Houston; Rachel and Timothy Russ; and Truett and Sutton Herring.Â He was a loving grandfather who cared for, played with, and wisely counseled his grandchildren.Â He also leaves his beloved sisters, JoAnn Mullins and Jane Beach (Paul), and an extended family that he cherished, as well as a host of friends.
Special thanks are extended to Dr. Cameron Huxford, Gentiva Hospice, First Baptist Church family, and a myriad of caring friends and family members.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, at First Baptist Church, Starkville.Â Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, at Welchâ€™s Funeral Home and again on Wednesday, April 30, from 9-10 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Starkville.Â A graveside service will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church near Brookhaven, Mississippi.Â In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church Childrenâ€™s Building Fund.
You may go online and sign our guest register at www.welchfuneralhomes.com.